Savannah gave another shrug.
Debbie put a hand on the girl’s arm. “You don’t need to impress your mom or try to prove yourself to her in any way.”
“I know, but…”
“But what?”
Savannah shrugged again. “I know girls whose moms are their best friend. I guess I kind of always wanted that.”
“I imagine her leaving was really hard on you. Especially as you were coming into your teen years.”
“It was, but it’s not like she’d been home much before she left.”
Debbie recalled Austin saying he often came home to find a babysitter taking care of the children. She had always had a good relationship with her mother and sisters, so it broke her heart to realize that Savannah had never had that.
“What kind of experiences do you wish you’d had with your mother?” Debbie asked. Maybe she could do some of those things with Savannah. It wouldn't be the same as doing them with a mother who loved her, but maybe it would let the girl know how much she cared about her.
Savannah scoffed. “Nothing now. I mean, I always kind of wondered what it would be like if she came back. I guess I had forgotten how self-centered she was.”
“She is quite the narcissist, isn’t she?”
“Can we not talk about her anymore, please?” Savannah asked.
“Gladly,” Debbie said with a laugh.
“What would you like to talk about? We have a long drive, it’ll pass faster if we talk about something fun.”
When Savannah didn’t say anything, Debbie took on a teasing tone. “Should we talk about Caleb?”
Savannah had been so excited on Thursday when she told Debbie that Caleb had asked her out already. After finishing homework with the boys and without Noah to keep an eye on, Debbie talked with Savannah a lot while she painted. It had become the highlight of her days.
She was about to ask Savannah if she’d decided how to respond to Caleb yet when the girl gave her a serious look.
“Do you like my dad?”
Warmth filled Debbie’s face. Her and Austin’s kiss had been for Cheyenne and Tucker’s benefit, but she should have remembered they had another audience too. She debated how to answer Savannah’s question. If she said “yes” would that upset the young woman? And if she said “no” would Savannah be disappointed.
She darted a quick glance at Savannah and decided the girl deserved the truth. “I like your dad very much. But you do know we’re only pretending to be engaged, right?”
“Yeah, but…”
“But what?” Debbie prompted. She really wanted to hear what Austin’s daughter thought about all of this.
“I’ve never seen him kiss anyone besides my mom. But he never kissed her likethat.”
The warmth that had filled Debbie’s face spread throughout her body as she remembered how passionate their kiss had been. She could understand why Austin never kissed his wife like that in front of the kids. Kisses like that usually led to other things that weren’t appropriate with an audience.
What might have happened if he’d kissed her like that without an audience?
Stop.
She couldn’t go there. It’d only make her want things she couldn’t have right now. And maybe never would.
“Hasn’t he dated over the last five years?” Debbie asked, trying to change the direction her thoughts had headed.
“No.”
“Really? Not at all?” Debbie didn’t know why, but that pleased her.
